Essays on dual-purpose wheat planting date, wheat production and grazing practices in Oklahoma, and agricultural lease agreements

Scope and method of study. Dual-purpose winter wheat production and agricultural land leasing is important in Oklahoma agriculture. The objective of the first paper was to determine the economic optimal planting date for dual-purpose winter wheat production. Data from field studies conducted in north central Oklahoma from 1991--92 through 1999--2000 were used to determine the impact of alternative planting dates on dual-purpose wheat fall-winter forage yield, grain yield and test weight. A survey of wheat producers conducted in 2000 was used in the second paper to provide information about wheat grain, wheat pasture, and wheat pasture livestock production and management practices across different regions in Oklahoma. Multiple mean comparisons procedure and t-tests were used to conduct hypothesis tests. The purpose of the third paper was to develop a lease contract model to determine the consequence of delegating specific input responsibilities to one of the relevant parties from the efficiency point of view. Some of the implications of the model were tested using data from Oklahoma statewide farmland leasing surveys conducted in 1998 and 2000.;Findings and conclusions. Optimal planting date was found to be sensitive to the relative value of wheat fall-winter forage and wheat grain, but not sensitive to wheat test weight discount schedules. When the value of wheat forage is high relative to the value of grain, it is more profitable to plant early to increase expected forage yield, and vice versa. Analysis of the survey showed that there are regional differences in some wheat production practices. Producers differentiate seeding rates, planting dates, and nitrogen application according to the intended use of wheat. In some cases the differences are less than those recommended by research and extension specialists. The theoretical lease contract model confirms that economic efficiency in input application is achieved when the proportion of the marginal product of the applied inputs received by the responsible party is consistent with his or her output share received during the lease period and the proportion of the applied inputs that remain after the lease period. The party who receives more value of the marginal product will be the one who will apply the level of input closer to an efficient level. The empirical tests supported the implications of the model.